The bird that shelters under its wings.This little temple
with its four square tiers of laterite, crowned by a brick sanctuary, might
serve for a model in miniature of some of its giant neighbors, and is almost as
perfect as perfect as the day it was built.
Prasat Baksei Chamkrong is located 150 meters (492 feel) north
of Phnom Bakheng and 80 meters (262 feet) from the road leading to the south gate
of Angkor Thom. A visit to Baksei Chamkrong can be combined with a stop at the
south gate of Angkor Thom. Enter and leave the temple from the east entrance.
Tip: The stairs to the Central Sanctuary are in poor
condition but the architecture and decoration of this temple can be viewed by
walking around it (in a clockwise direction). Those who persist in climbing to
the Central Sanctuary should use the north stairway. It was built in middle of
the tenth century (947), perhaps begun by Harshavarman I and completed by
Rajendravarman II, dedicated to Siva (Hindu)
may have been a funerary temple for the parents of the king with
following transitional between Bakheng and Koh ker.
BACKGROUND
According to legend, the king fled during an attack on Angkor and was saved from being caught by the enemy when
a large bird swooped down and spread its wings to shelter the king. The name of
the temple derives from this legend.
Baksei Chamkrong was the first temple-mountain at Angkor built entirely of durable materials brick, laterite
and sandstone. Even though it is small the balanced proportions and scale of
this monument are noteworthy. Inscriptions on the columns of the door and the
arches give the date of the temple and mention a golden image of Siva.
LAYOUT
Baksei Chamkrong is a simple plan with a single tower on top
of a square tiered base with four levels of diminishing size (27 meters, 89
feet, a side at the base) built of laterite (1-4). The height from the ground
to the top of the Central Sanctuary is 13 meters (43 feet). Three levels of the
base are undecorated but the top one has horizontal molding around it and
serves as a base for the Central sanctuary. A steep staircase on each side of
the base leads to the top. A brick wall (5) with an entry tower (6) and
sandstone steps enclosed the temple. Although it has almost all disappeared
vestiges are visible on the east side of the temple.
CENTRAL SANCTUARY
The square central tower is built of brick and stands on a
sandstone base. It has one door opening to the east with three false doors on
the other sides. As is typical of tenth-century Khmer architecture, the columns
and lintels are made of sandstone. A vertical panel in the center of each false
door contains motifs of foliage on stems. The interior of the tower has a
sunken floor and a vault with a corbel arch.
The finely worked decoction on the sandstone columns and
horizontal beams above the doors imitates woodcarving. An outline divinity can
be seen in the bricks at the corners of the tower. A three-headed elephant on
the east lintel is finely carved.
